Best Political Movies

All eyes are on Pennsylvania today as Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama slug it out for the Democratic nomination.

What better day to offer a list of the 10 Best Political Movies Ever?

Political consultant/future Hall of Famer Michael Solomon once offered his list of the 10 best political movies, and it began with “The Ten Commandmants.” That No. 1 choice was idiosyncratic in the extreme, much like Solomon himself, but it illustrates how broadly you can interpret this category. There’s an element of politics in many epics, spy movies, crime stories, you name it.

I tried to stick with a more narrow interpretation here, but you’re welcome to go wherever you want in the Comments. And Mike, if you’re out there, feel free to weigh in.

1. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington — The little guy beats the system. Seems quaint now, but it’s still as rousing as ever.

6. Fail-Safe — Henry Fonda as president making the ultimate decision on the brink of nuclear holocaust. The funny version of this, Dr. Strangelove, was on my Black Comedy list.

7. The Best Man — Henry Fonda again and convention politics.

8. Dave — Average guy posing as president discovers he really can make a difference. I know this is just a fairy tale, but I never tire of watching it. By the way, here are the five movie presidents I most wish we really had: Harrison Ford (Air Force One), Bill Pullman (Independence Day), Fonda (Fail-Safe), Michael Douglas (The American President) and President Dwayne Elizondo Mountain Dew Herbert Camacho (Terry Crews in Idiocracy).

9. All the King’s Men — Broderick Crawford again as a fictitional version of populist Lousiana Governor Huey Long.

10. A Face in the Crowd — If you only know Andy Griffith as gentle Sheriff Andy Taylor, you should check him out as a power-mad rabble-rouser in this great movie.

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Current Comments

Good list, Bill. "Dave" and "The American President" are my two favorites from this group. I finally got my twenty-something kids to watch "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" about a month ago. They loved it.

Posted By: Gwen | Apr 22, 2008 5:43:08 PM

I haven't seen most of the movies on this list but I do agree with you on The American President and Air Force One for Presidents we wish were real. Oh, and the Independence Day one too...I saw that movie for the first time in the UK after I had been away for home for several weeks. All the patriotism made me cry. Its amazing how it can take a trip out of the country to make you realize you really are patriotic.

Posted By: MOB | Apr 22, 2008 8:39:30 PM

Uh, did anyone ever hear of JFK or Malcom X?

Oh, yeah, them were movies, too!

Posted By: Mr. Alpha Town D.D. | Apr 23, 2008 12:54:17 AM

"Thirteen Days" (about the Kennedy White House during the Cuban missile crisis) was very good, too.

24 hasn't been the same since David Palmer was shot. He's by far my favorite TV president, although Charles Logan was kind of fun.

Posted By: Bill White | Apr 23, 2008 12:35:50 PM

Yeah, if Logan was the president in real life, things would be pretty entertaining. He'd start his term in office whiny and petulant, and end it completely evil. Then his wife would stab him, and we'd never see him again.

Posted By: Tom | Apr 23, 2008 5:06:59 PM

I'll chime in for "Wag the Dog" as well. But what about "Bulworth" or "Bob Roberts"?

Posted By: Daryl Nerl | Apr 23, 2008 5:57:00 PM

Speaking of the Manchurian Candidate I just watched this CIA secrets show about how the CIA back in the 50's/60's was trying to develop a Manchurian Candidate themselves. Pretty creepy stuff.

Posted By: MOB | Apr 23, 2008 10:01:41 PM

I'm surprised no one mentioned Primary Colors, especially with Hillary in the race. I really liked that movie.

Posted By: Betsey | Apr 23, 2008 11:28:58 PM

I agree Gwen, "13 Days" was a great movie, worthy of at least an Honorable Mention.

Posted By: Eric | Apr 24, 2008 6:27:03 AM

Thanks, Eric. I think it's a sign of a well-made movie about a real-life event that, even though we know how the real-life event ended, the movie is still suspenseful (like "Apollo 13").

Posted By: Gwen | Apr 24, 2008 9:03:13 AM

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